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**New Mini-Series on Benito Mussolini Sparks Controversy in Italy**

A new mini-series on Benito Mussolini, titled “M. il Figlio del Secolo”, has been released in Italy, sparking controversy after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she won’t be making time to watch it. The series, an Italian-French co-production, is based on the novel by Antonio Scurati and inspired by the life of the Italian dictator.

The series, directed by British filmmaker Joe Wright, follows the rise of Mussolini from the foundation of the Fasci di Combattimento in 1919 to the speech of 3 January 1925, in which he admits responsibility for the murder of the socialist member of parliament Giacomo Matteotti. The series consists of 8 episodes and explores the age of squadrismo, the March on Rome in 1922, and the early years of Mussolini’s rule.

**Scurati: The M. Series and the Controversy**

Antonio Scurati, the author of the novel on which the series is based, has been involved in several controversies with the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, of which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is a member. In April, RAI, the state broadcaster, cancelled one of Scurati’s monologues scheduled to mark Italy’s annual Liberation Day, sparking a strike by the RAI journalists’ union.

**A Thorny Legacy**

The production of the series has been a major talking point in Italy given its fascist background. Several of Mussolini’s heirs are in politics and defend his political legacy. Many exponents and former exponents of the centre-right coalition that governs Italy have repeatedly sought to minimize the damage Mussolini caused to Italy and have refused to distance themselves from Italy’s fascist past.

**Giorgia Meloni: “M? I Have Other Priorities”**

When questioned about the series at her annual press conference, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni replied that she has other priorities and hasn’t watched series for more than two years. The controversy surrounding the series and the prime minister’s comments have sparked debate about the legacy of Mussolini and the role of the fascist past in Italian politics.

**FAQ**

Q: What is the new mini-series about?
A: The series, titled “M. il Figlio del Secolo”, is based on the novel by Antonio Scurati and inspired by the life of Benito Mussolini.

Q: Who is the author of the novel on which the series is based?
A: The author is Antonio Scurati, who has been involved in several controversies with the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party.

Q: Who is the director of the series?
A: The director is British filmmaker Joe Wright, who has directed films such as “Pride and Prejudice” and “The Darkest Hour”.

Q: What is the controversy surrounding the series?
A: The series has sparked controversy due to its fascist background and the involvement of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party in the production.

**Conclusion**

The new mini-series on Benito Mussolini has sparked controversy in Italy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying she won’t be making time to watch it. The series, based on the novel by Antonio Scurati, explores the rise of Mussolini and the early years of his rule. The controversy surrounding the series and the prime minister’s comments have sparked debate about the legacy of Mussolini and the role of the fascist past in Italian politics.